Acoustica User Forums

Got an email from Waves for an Abbey Road Vinyl plugin. $29 today only.

It sounds like a "toy" and a potential black hole timewise - but I can't stop thinking about it.

Supposedly adds the "warmth" of vinyl. But it also can add the benefit(?) of pops, slow down of the turntable (whatever that is - I don't remember that being something that happened while the song was playing). Other things I guess.

For $29 I'm intrigued - but then again will it make my songs sound "better" in any musical way, or just make it sound like I'm putting a needle down on a turntable and hearing all the scratches etc?

(I wonder if they have a crappy AM transistor radio plugin too?)

Opinions? Thanks

Opinion?
It was the first email I deleted this morning when I checked my inbox.

I have the similar plug in from iZotopes, which was offered for free for a short period after release about two years ago. I messed with it for less than 10 minutes and concluded it was worth exactly what I had paid. Great if you want to add some noise I guess.
The only use I can see is if perhaps one did soundtracks or something and wanted to create a "scene" where someone was listening to a noisy record.
Yeah, there's "AM radio emulations" around too if you desire.

"Vinyl warmth". Don't get me started.

Thanks much Mark. As you might have surmised, it wasn't the price that bothered me. It was the potential waste of time.

I think vinyl does have a clarity to it not found on CDs. I've heard classic rock albums my son has on his stereo system and I know there is a difference. I can't explain it in words- but on one track the snare sounded as if I was behind it. I not only heard the sound of the snare but distinctly hear the stick hit the skin.

Not saying it can't be done with digital - but mathematically it makes sense to me - continuous vs discrete. The debate is whether the ears can hear the difference - not if there actually is a difference.

But back to the plugin - it's what I thought. Likely to make the sound intentionally imperfect.

And I'm doing a pretty good job of not being perfect on my own.

(I wonder if Pink Floyd used a crappy AM radio plugin on the intro to Wish You Were Here?)

I'm with you folks on another plugin, for which in 6 months they'll try to sell you a support package for future upgrades.

Have you tried FAT+ in the Mixcraft bundle? I'm pretty happy with its ability to "warm" up the color of otherwise harsh digital strings.

The point of the Waves Vinyl plugin is to simulate lo-fi effects (usually associate with vinyl) that seem to be popular in recent years. Crackles, hiss, pops, that sort of thing.

I don't remember vinyl records ever providing more clarity compared to digital media, but this plugin doesn't do that anyway. I suspect it's more "warmth and roundness" you're after, and for that I suggest looking at tape sims (Vinyl records were originally recorded to tape, and it's from that medium IMO that it got its characteristic sound).

Mark mentioned Izotope's Vinyl plugin.... It's still free, and simulates many of the lo-fi effects that the Waves plugin does. If "lo-fi" is what you're truly after, then it certainly wouldn't hurt to give this freebie a look-see.

I'd sure go with a tape sim over that, the Kramer and J37 get high marks. Keep in mind, Waves is having a bunch of issues with their Waves Central and their licensing process. Seems to be sporadic but a lot of folks are having problems.

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You don't need a special plugin to get the "warmth" of a vinyl recording.
Just make sure your tracks (especially drums and bass) are all heavily compressed with an analog style compressor plugin (take Ringo's drums on Abbey Road as an example).
Cut the frequencies below 40 Hz and above 15 kHz.
Make sure that in the mix the dynamics of you're material doesn't exceed 35 db with another analog style compressor/limiter on the master track, avoid all "loudness war" tricks.
Now you have the specifics of a vinyl recording.
Then add a loop of sampled vinyl-background noise (no clicks and pops of course, just the rumble and hiss) at a barely audible level throughout the whole recording.
You'll miss a lot of the clarity of the digital recording, but you have the "warmth" of a vinyl recording back.

Added ambience is the most simple general trick to give back life to an over-clear digital recording. Apart from the vinyl noise the use of a sample of people mumbling in a room or at a concert does wonders.....